Speaker about situation of Dereneu church: Law must be applied to everyone, without discrimination

The tensions in the village of Dereneu, Călărași district, generated by the dispute over the right of use of the church "Adormirea Maicii Domnului” have also come to the attention of the Parliament leadership. Speaker Igor Grosu calls for calm and says "the law must be applied to everyone, without discrimination".

"Orthodox Christians in the Republic of Moldova are in an internal conflict – who is more faithful, who is more pious, while politicians capitalize on these tensions for their own interests," Grosu said.

The official emphasizes that in this case there is a decision of the Supreme Court of Justice that must be observed, and those who are creating a show must understand that the law is for everyone.

"The state and its institutions must intervene impartially. The Church must not be used as a political tool or a factor of social division," he stated.

The Speaker notes that the police know how to manage such situations, but his message is clear: the law must be applied to everyone, without discrimination.

The tensions in the village of Dereneu were also commented on by the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sports and the Media, Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, after opposition MPs requested hearings with the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security and Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Culture regarding this case.

The same situation was commented on by Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan. He underlined that this is about "two communities of Orthodox Christians from the same village, a small village, which, regardless of political involvement, will have to continue living together in the same village." The official reiterated that all enforceable decisions must be respected by both sides, and where there are ongoing court proceedings, the final ruling of the court must be awaited.

"I call for calm, peace and respect for the law exactly as it is. I do not believe that children should be involved in such a dispute. We must avoid to the maximum the involvement of children," Cristian Jardan declared.

Asked what concrete measures the institution he leads will take to prevent conflicts between religious communities, the minister said that any external intervention risks aggravating the situation.

"Every visit by someone from outside only serves to exacerbate this situation. There are courts, there is a law that must be respected," he noted, adding that violence and quarrels are not a solution.

The dispute over the right of use of the church has been going on for several years. On 5 November 2019, the Ministry of Culture and the Metropolis of Bessarabia concluded a gratuitous use contract for a period of 50 years, with the documents subsequently registered in the Real Estate Register.

At the same time, the action initiated in 2019 by the Metropolis of Moldova for the recognition of the right of use was irrevocably rejected by the Chișinău Court of Appeal on 28 June 2023, and the solution was upheld by the Supreme Court of Justice by a ruling of 12 June 2025.

According to the decision of the Supreme Court of 21 June 2024, the right of free use and possession of the building is legally established on the basis of the 2019 contract, and any contrary claims have been dismissed as unfounded.

On 1 February 2026, several inhabitants who contest the parish’s transfer to the Metropolis of Bessarabia tried to force their way into the church, but the police blocked their access on the basis of the irrevocable decision of the supreme court. The police state that their mission is to ensure public order and the safety of citizens and urge the population to avoid actions that may generate further provocations or tensions.